There's risk with DeMarcus Ware, Broncos coach John Fox says, just like with Peyton Manning

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Tom Fox/Staff Photographer

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) nearly has his helmet ripped off his head after being landed on by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) in the third quarter at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Thursday, November 22, 2012. The Cowboys lost 38-31. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)

DeMarcus Ware, one of the most dominant pass rushers of his generation, is coming off the least productive season of his career.

Denver views him as a player struggling with an injury rather than a Pro Bowl talent in decline. Think Peyton Manning.

"Anytime you're dealing with people, there's a risk,'' Broncos coach John Fox said. "We got a guy a couple of years ago, No. 18 (Manning), and there was some risk. That turned out pretty good.''

Fox believes the elbow injury is what compromised Ware the most.

“Watching him before it happened and after it happened, you realize it’s hard to play this game with one arm,’’ Fox said. “You get it fixed.

“We’re obviously betting he has a lot left. I think there is a lot of evidence of that with his character, being a captain, being a leader, playing a large part of that season with a pretty serious injury…

“We look at it a little bit more as a glass half full.’’

A quadriceps strain, stinger, bad back and sore elbow all conspired to erode Ware’s performance with the Cowboys last season. He underwent surgery in February to address a nerve issue in his right elbow.

The Broncos plan to pair Ware with Von Miller at outside linebacker to form a strong one, two punch. Miller considers Ware a mentor and Fox said it will be good to “get them on the same field together.’’

The Broncos fell one win shy of the championship. That doesn’t mean they look to Ware to be the player who gets them over the hump.

“No, I don’t know if you want to say too much about the missing piece,’’ Fox said. “I mean, we did go to the Super Bowl. You’re just trying to improve, trying to get better.

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